FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 13, 2026
CONTACT: Dana Kuhnline, 513 601 9854, [email protected]
APPALACHIA – Today, ReImagine Appalachia hosted Pennsylvania District Representative, Joe Ciresi and Piedmont Environmental Council President, Christopher G. Miller, to discuss strengthening community access to information amid a surge in local governments signing nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) with data center companies.
“We all know that there is a need for these centers. Good, bad, or indifferent. We also know that we don’t want them in our backyards,” said Representative Joe Ciresi. “But we want to know how much water you’re going to use, how much power you’re going to use, and why the hell do I have to pay for the water in your business.”
Because tech companies routinely sign NDAs with local governments, residents often don’t know about a data center’s development until after construction has begun. At this event, guest presenters urged the 187 webinar attendees not to delay in engaging their local governments on the issue of data center transparency, because developments may already be in the works that have not been made public.
“Public engagement in the long term can be seen as a boogeyman to companies that want to keep their secrets, but it’s actually shown to improve project success. And our engagement matters,” said ReImagine Appalachia’s Programs Director, Dana Kuhnline.
Watch the recorded event here: “Full Disclosure: Data Centers, NDAs, and Transparency”.
This event is part of ReImagine Appalachia’s ongoing series exploring the possibilities of responsible development of data centers.
GUEST SPEAKERS:
- Representative Joe Ciresi of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Christopher G. Miller, Piedmont Environmental Council President
- Moderator: Dana Kuhnline, Program Director, ReImagine Appalachia
About ReImagine Appalachia
ReImagine Appalachia is a coalition working to ensure Appalachia is a leader in the clean energy economy and that the new economy creates good jobs and strengthens communities.